Genetic relationships among Aedes aegypti (Diptera : Culicidae) populations from Argentina using random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction markers

Random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) polym orphism was analyzed in five Aedes aegypti (L.) populations from Argentina and one from Puerto Rico to estimate levels of intraspecific polymorphism a nd genetic relatedness. Allele frequencies were estimated assuming that RAP D products segregate as dominants and that genotype frequencies at those lo ci are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Mean expected heterozygosity (H-e) wa s 0.350: F-ST virtues were significant at all loci except one, supporting t he usefulness of the fragments used here to discriminate among populations. Rogers' genetic similarity between samples ranged from 0.806 to 0.621. The population from Puerto Rico was the most different from the Argentina popu lations. Considering that Atr. aegypti eggs, larvae. and pupae can be trans ported easily, relationships among the Argentinian populations may reflect the routes and intensity; of commercial transit.